Self-leveling bracket for lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

A self-leveling bracket assembly for suspending a lighting fixture from a ceiling of a structure. The light fixture comprising a frame having a first and second ends, the self-leveling bracket assembly having two brackets, each bracket comprising a connector member adapted to be attached to the ceiling and a hangar having one end pivotally attached to the connector member and another end adapted to receive the light fixture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/423,579,filed Apr. 14, 2009, which is hereby expressly incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a self-leveling bracket, and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a self-leveling bracketfor use with lighting fixtures, namely high intensity fluorescentlighting assemblies.

2. Brief Description of Related Art

High intensity fluorescent lighting, or “HIF lights” are relatively newin the art. HIF lights are provided for producing intense light in asmall area and are considered “point sources” of lighting. HIF lightsare popular in applications that feature large expanses lit by distantfixtures, such as indoor and outdoor sports facilities, factories andwarehouses with high ceilings. HIF lights are beginning to replace highintensity discharge lighting, or “HID lamps” for a variety of reasons,namely HIF lights do not require long warm-up times of traditional HIDlamps. Also, HIF lights are quieter and do not produce light flickerwhen operated. For these reasons, HIF lights are replacing HID lamps inmany applications.

Most fluorescent lighting used in industrial applications requires theuse of long glass tubes filled with a gas. Typically, fluorescentlighting fixtures comprise a rectangular frame that is adapted toreceive one or more of the glass tubes within sockets that areconnectable to an electrical energy source. As each of the glass tubesis typically four feet in length and each frame may hold multiple glasstubes, the lighting fixtures can be cumbersome to handle and install.For example, most fluorescent lighting fixtures will have a width of twofeet and a length of four feet. Therefore, installation can beparticularly challenging. In most cases, the fluorescent lightingfixtures are installed by suspending the fluorescent lighting fixturesfrom cables that hang from the ceiling of a structure. Additionally, thefluorescent lighting fixtures may be installed by securely strapping thefluorescent lighting fixtures to a structural beam of the ceiling of astructure. This method of installation is undesirable as the positioningof the fluorescent lighting fixtures depend upon the slope of theceiling such that if the ceiling is angled, the fluorescent lightingfixtures will project light at an angle rather than directly downward.

Therefore, a need exists for a self-leveling bracket for securingfluorescent lighting fixtures, the self-leveling bracket allowing thefluorescent lighting fixture to self adjust such that the lightingfixture is oriented substantially parallel to the ground. It is to sucha self-leveling bracket that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end view of a self-leveling bracket constructed inaccordance with the present invention shown connected to a support beamof a ceiling for securing a fluorescent lighting fixture.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the self-leveling bracket assembly incombination with the lighting fixture.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the self-leveling bracket.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the self-leveling bracket.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the self-leveling bracket.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the self-leveling bracketshown in combination with an extension member and a lighting fixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2collectively, shown therein is a self-leveling bracket assembly,hereinafter referred to as the bracket assembly 10, in combination witha fluorescent lighting fixture 14. The bracket assembly 10 isconnectable to a ceiling 18 of a structure, and more specifically to asupport beam 24 of the ceiling 18. The support beam 24 is typicallyfabricated of steel, but may be fabricated on other material, such asconcrete. The bracket assembly 10 is constructed in such a way that whenconnected to the lighting fixture 14, the lighting fixture 14 mayself-level so that the lighting fixture 14 is disposed substantiallyparallel to the ground of the structure when the ground is level.

The lighting fixture 14 is provided with a substantially rectangularframe 32 having a first end 36 and a second end 40 and a lengthextending therebetween. Although the lighting fixture 14 has beendisclosed as having a substantially rectangular frame 32, any number ofother shapes and/or configurations of lighting fixtures 14 which wouldbe known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosurebefore them are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with thepresent invention. The lighting fixture 14 also includes one or morefluorescent tube lights 44 in electrical connection with an electricalconnector (not shown) for connecting the lighting fixture 14 to theelectrical system of the structure.

The bracket assembly 10 may include two brackets 22. The two brackets 22are constructed identically to one another. For purposes of clarity, theconstruction of only one of the brackets 22 will be describedhereinafter. The bracket 22 may be constructed from a strong and rigidmaterial such as a metal (such as steel, titanium, aluminum or blendsthereof), although any number of materials, for example, a resin orplastic polymer, natural material(s) such as a wood or fiber basedmaterial and combinations thereof, that would be known to one ofordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them arelikewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention.The bracket 22 may be fabricated using any number of differentmanufacturing processes, the selection of which may be controlled, inpart, by the material selected.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the bracket 22 includes a connector member52 and a hangar 56. It will be understood that each bracket 22 includesa connector member 52 and a hangar 56. The connector member 52 isprovided as a substantially L-shaped portion 60 constructed to conformto at least a portion of the support beam 24 of the ceiling 18 such thatthe L-shaped portion 60 may be connected to the support beam 24 of theceiling 18 (see FIG. 1). Although the connector member 52 has beendisclosed as being L-shaped, any number of other shapes and/orconfigurations, as well as sizes, which allow the connector member 52 tojoin with the support beam 24 of the ceiling 18 are likewisecontemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. TheL-shaped portion 60 is connectable to the support beam 24 via one ormore fasteners 64 (also see FIG. 1), for example, threaded fasteners,nut and bolt fasteners, clips, adhesives, straps, rivets, concreteanchors, and/or combinations thereof.

The connector member 52 further includes at least one, but preferablytwo, downwardly extending flanges 68. It will be understood that theinclusion of two flanges 68 allows the connector member 52 to be used inboth a right handed and left handed fashion, making the brackets 22universal. The flanges 68 are provided to pivotally connect theconnector member 52 to the hangar 56 as will be discussed in greaterdetail below.

In one embodiment, the hangar 56 includes an elongated plate 72. Theplate 72 includes a first end portion 76, a second end portion 80, and alength extending therebetween. The first end portion 76 is provided witha substantially rounded edge 88 which allows the hangar 56 to pivotallyconnect to one of the flanges 68 of the connection member 52 withoutinterfering with the support beam 24 during rotation of the hangar 56.Although the hangar 56 has been shown as being A-shaped, any number ofother shapes and/or configurations (e.g., rectangular, square,elliptical, or irregular) which would be known to one of ordinary skillin the art with the present disclosure before them are likewisecontemplated for use in accordance with the present invention.

In one embodiment, the first end portion 76 of the hangar 56 ispivotally connected to the connector member 52 by a pin fastener 90. Itwill be understood that other types of connections and/or fastenerswhich allow the hangar 56 to pivot while being securely connected to theconnector member 52, for example, rivets, a threaded fastener, a clip orthe like are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with thepresent invention.

The second end portion 80 of the plate 72 includes one or moreconnectors 92 for securing a portion of the lighting fixture 14 to thehangar 56. In one embodiment, the one or more connectors 92 includes twoupturned tabs 96 forming substantially V-shaped grooves for slidinglyreceiving at least a portion of one of the first and the second ends 36and 40 of the rectangular frame 32 of the lighting fixture 14 such thatone of the hangars 56 is connected to the first end 36 of the lightingfixture 14 and the other hangar 56 is connected to the second end 36 ofthe lighting fixture 14. Although the connectors 92 have been disclosedas being upturned tabs 96 forming substantially V-shaped grooves, anynumber of differently shaped tabs or components that function to jointhe rectangular frame 32 of the lighting fixture 14 to the hangars 56are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the presentinvention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hangar 56 includes oneor more apertures 100 disposed longitudinally along the midline of theof the hangar 56. It will be understood that the apertures 100 may belocated at any position along the plate 72. The apertures 100 are sizedto receive a securement member 104 (see FIG. 1) therethrough to act as astop to prevent the lighting fixture 14 from disassociating from thehangar 56. Examples of various securement members 104 include, but arenot limited to, threaded members, pins, clips, rivets and the like. Thesecurement member 104 is preferably inserted into an aperture 100 thatis located above the top of the frame 32 of the lighting fixture 14 whenthe lighting fixture 14 is joined with the bracket 22 (see FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIG. 6, the bracket 22 may also include an extensionmember 108 for increasing the distance between the flanges 68 and thehangars 56. The extension member 108 may include any number of shapesand/or sizes, for example, in one embodiment, the extension member 108to include an elongated plate having apertures 112 fabricated into bothends of the plate. Each of the two lower apertures 112 (proximate thehangar 56) are fabricated to receive a fastener 116 therethrough forsecuring the hangar 56 to the extension member 108. Also, the extensionmember 108 is connected to one of the flanges 68 of the hangar 56 by thepin fastener 90 which allows the extension member 108 to pivot relativeto the connector member similar to the pivotal connection of the hangar56 as disclosed above. The extension member 108 allows the lightingfixture 14 to hang further down from the ceiling 18 and also provides aclearance between the ceiling 18 and the lighting fixture 14 tofacilitate maintenance on the lighting fixture 14.

To install the lighting fixture 14 using the bracket assembly 10, eachof the brackets 22 is secured to the support beam 24 of the ceilingspaced apart from one another. More specifically, the brackets 22 arespaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the frame32 of the light fixture 14. The connector members 52 are connected tothe support beam 24 by placing the connector member 52 in a matingrelationship with the support beam 24 and attaching the connectormembers 52 with fasteners 64. With the brackets 22 secured to thesupport beam 24, the light fixture 14 is secured to each of the twobrackets 22 by inserting the first end 36 of the frame 32 into thegrooves of one of the hangars 56 of a first bracket 22 and inserting thesecond end 40 of the frame 32 into the grooves of the other hanger 56.To further secure the lighting fixture 14 to the brackets 22, securementmembers 104 are placed through one of the apertures 100 of each of thehangars 56 of each of the brackets 22 at a distance above the top of theframe 32 of the lighting fixture 14 (see FIG. 1). Due to the pivotalconnection between the connector members 52 and the hangers 56, thelight fixture 14 will move to a substantially level orientation.

In another embodiment, certain parts of the bracket assembly 10disclosed above are fabricated integrally, or fixedly attached togetherwith the rectangular frame 32 to produce a self-leveling lightingfixture. For example, the hangars 56 may be fabricated as integral partsof the rectangular frame 32 such that the connector members 52 may beinstalled by connecting the connector members 52 to the support beam 24and the self-leveling lighting fixture is then rotatably connected tothe connector members 52 by inserting pin fasteners through the firstportion 76 of the hangars 56 and the flanges 56 of the connector members52.

From the above description it is clear that the present invention iswell adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantagesmentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. Whilepresently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described forpurposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changesmay be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the inventiondisclosed and as defined in the appended claims.

1. A bracket assembly for suspending a lighting fixture from a ceilingof a structure, the lighting fixture comprising a frame having a firstend and a second end, the self-leveling bracket assembly comprising: twobrackets, each bracket comprising: a connector member connectable to theceiling of the structure; and a hangar comprising a plate having a firstend portion and an opposing second end portion, the first end portion ofthe plate pivotally connected to the connector member, the second endportion including at least one groove for receiving one of the first endand the second end of the frame of the lighting fixture, wherein theself-leveling bracket assembly when connected to the lighting fixtureand the ceiling allows the lighting fixture to self-level.
 2. Thebracket assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector members include anL-shaped portion constructed to substantially conform to at least aportion of a support beam of the ceiling.
 3. The bracket assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the connector members include one or more downwardlyextending flanges, and wherein the hangar is pivotally connected to oneof the one or more downwardly extending flanges.
 4. The bracket assemblyof claim 1, wherein the groove is formed by at least one upturned tab.5. The bracket assembly of claim 4, wherein the groove is formed by twospaced apart upturned tabs.
 6. The bracket assembly of claim 1 furthercomprising an extension member having one end pivotally connected to theconnector member and another end fixedly attached to the first endportion of the plates.
 7. A lighting fixture, comprising: a frame membersupporting one or more fluorescent tubes, the frame member having firstand second ends spaced apart from one another to define a length; afirst bracket connected to and extending from the first end of the framemember; and a second bracket connected to and extending from the secondend of the frame member, wherein each of the first and second bracketscomprises: a connector member connectable to the ceiling of a structure;and a hangar comprising a plate having a first end portion and anopposing second end portion, the second portion being connected to theframe member and the first end portion being pivotally connected to theconnector member in such a way that the frame member is able toself-level when the connector members are connected to the ceiling. 8.The lighting fixture of claim 7, wherein the connector members includean L-shaped portion constructed to substantially conform to at least aportion of a support beam of the ceiling.
 9. The lighting fixture ofclaim 7, wherein the connector members include one or more downwardlyextending flanges, and wherein the hangar is pivotally connected to oneor more downwardly extending flanges.
 10. The lighting fixture of claim7, wherein the second end portion of the plate includes at least onegroove in which one of the first and the second ends of the frame of theframe member is slidingly received.
 11. The lighting fixture of claim10, wherein the groove is formed by at least one upturned tab.
 12. Thelighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the groove is formed by aplurality of spaced apart, upturned tabs.
 13. A method of suspending alight fixture from a ceiling of a structure wherein the light fixtureincludes a rectangular frame having a first end and a second end, themethod comprising: attaching two brackets to the ceiling so that thebrackets are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the lengthof the rectangular frame, each of the brackets comprising: a connectormember connectable to the ceiling of the structure; and a hangarcomprising a plate extending downwardly from the connecter member andhaving a first end portion pivotally connected to the connector memberand an opposing second end portion having at least one groove forslidingly receiving one of the first and second ends of the frame;sliding the first end of the frame into the groove of the first bracketand sliding the second end of the frame into the groove of the secondbracket; and allowing the light fixture to self-level.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the ceiling of the structure further includes asupport beam, wherein the connector members of the first and secondbrackets include an L-shaped portion, and wherein the method furthercomprises attaching each of the connector members to the support beamsso that the L-shaped portion substantially conforms to a portion of thesupport beam.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the L-shaped portion isangularly disposed when connected to the support beam.